Electrically-operated latch and door.



No. 728,367. PATENTED MAY 19;, 1903.

' Q J. CHAMBERS, JR.

ELEGTRIGALLY OPERATED LATCH AND DOOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27, 1903.

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UNITED STATES- Patented'May 19, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

Josnrn CHAMBERS, JR OF DALLAS,'TEXAS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters lPatent No. 728,367, dated May 19,1903.

Application filed February 27, 1903. Serial No. 145,412. .(No model.)

have invented certain new and useful Improvemen ts in Electrically-Operated Latches and Doors, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an electrically-operated latch and door, and particularly to a construction for primarily operating a latch to release the door, the movement of which latch establishes circuit through a door-opening mechanism.

The invention has for an object to providean improved construction of parts by which a latch is operatedto release a door by means of a circuit established inthe moyementof a traveling member, said latch being provided with means for establishing a circuit through a door-opening mechanism'after the door has been released by the latch.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of such latch by which the circuit through the door-opening mechanism is established by the movement of the latch toward a magnet and also to improve the door-opening mechanism to effect its automatic opening and closing movements.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a diagrammatic illustration showing an open and closed door with the circuit connections for the latch and door operating mechanism; Fig. 2, a de= moving car at a right angle to that shown in.

1 vpoles of an electromagnet-for instance, as

Fig. 1.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures-ofthe drawings.

The letterA designates a door mounted to slide in any suitableman-ner forinstance,

, B, as shown in Fig. 1, which is pivoted at B -to a fixed part and provided with the anglearm B at its upper end, its lower end having a sliding connection B with the door to per.- mit the free travel of the latter.. Any desired form of electrical connection may be used. For instance, a solenoid B may be disposed upon a fixed part and the core B thereof connected with the angle-arm B by means of a pivoted link B It is also desirable to form this core of so fficient weight to automatically close the door by its gravity when the current through the solenoid is discontinued. The current through the solenoid is taken from any suitable line-wire-for instance, as shown, at Oin circuit with a generator, as at O, and having a return-line 0?. From the line C a connection 0 is made with the coil of the solenoid, the opposite end of which coilbeing carried by means of line 04 to a contact 0 while the return-line 0 extends from a contact 0 adjacent to the contact 0 to the main return-line 0 so that when current is established between the contacts 0 and O the solenoid is energized to lift its core and operate the door.

The'latching device for retaining the door may be of any preferred construction adapted {to engage a member carried'by the door to prevent the movementthereoffor instance, 'a beveled projection A upon the door itself,

which contacts with a latch D, having a retaining-shoulder D and beveled under face, said latch being also provided with verticallymovable guide-arms D extending through keepers or guides D supported from an insulating-ring D and provided with slots through which the pins D extend, as shown by detail in Figs. 2 and 3. This ring D extends concentric to the core D and forms a support for the guides D sothat the latter are fully insulated from the core. This latch is formed of suitable material to be attracted by the shown at D where the pole-pieces D? at the opposite ends thereof are provided with-contact-faces D adapted to attract and lift the latch member D, while the magnet D is supported from any fixed member by means of For the purpose of energizing brackets D this magnet a circuit-line (3 extends from the main line C to one end of the winding there- ICO of and a return-line C from the opposite end of the winding to a contact block or face E, disposed upon a fixed part-for instance, the wall of an elevator-well. Parallel with this contact E is a similar contact E, connected by line E with the main-line return 0 The extended end D of the latch D, which forms the armature of the magnet, is provided with a conducting-plate D disposed beneath the contacts C and 0 so that when the armature is raised and the door released circuit is then established through the solenoid for the purpose of operating the door. For the purpose of establishing circuit through the magnet the moving member, which is shown in the present instance as an elevator-car F, is provided with a contact brush or arm E slidingly mounted in a guide E and adapted to be operated by a push-rod Eflextending within the car and pivotally connected to one member of a crank-arm E the opposite member of which is pivotally connected to the arm E. This crank-arm is mounted in a bracket E and provided with a restoring-spring E The means just described for establishing circuit between contacts E and E are merely shown for the purpose of illustration, and any other suitable construction may be used as found desirable.

In the operation of the invention it will be seen that as the car approaches the landing the operator may if he desires to open the door throw outward the arm and establish circuit between the contacts upon the wall of the well, thus primarily energizing the latchmagnet, which when raised disengages the door and immediately thereafter establishes circuit through the solenoid to actuate the door-opening mechanism, whereby the door will be moved from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2 by the attraction of the core of the solenoid. As the car isagain moved the circuit between the wall-contacts is broken and the solenoid D deenergized, so that the weight of the core thereof returns the door by gravity, assisted by any other device, if found desirable, to its closed position. It will be seen that this invention presents a simple positively-acting construction of parts by which the door is primarily released from the latch before current can be established through the solenoid, and thereby the frictional contact of the draft from the dooropening mechanism against thelatch is avoided, which in many instances prevents the free movement of the latch and the opening of the door. Furthermore, when the solenoid is deenergized thedooris returnedto its closed position, and the circuit through the lifting-magnot having been primarily broken the armature or latch member thereof drops by gravity to its lowest position to engage the projection carried by the door. Both the latch and projection may be provided with inclined faces, as shown, for the purpose of permitting the door to complete its closing movement without material resistance from the latch until the straight wall projection upon the door engages the shoulder upon the latch.

It will be obvious that changes may be made in the details of construction and configuration without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is--- 1. In a device of the class described, a movable door, a latch adapted to retain the same in a closed position, an electrically-operated door-opening mechanism, and electrical means for preliminarily disengaging said latch and in the subsequent movement thereof establishing circuit to the door-opening mechanism.

2. In a device of the class described, a movable door, a latch adapted to retain the same in a closed position, a door-opening mechanism, a magnet for disengaging said latch, and means carried by the latch to establish circuit for electrically energizing the door-opening mechanism.

3. In a device of the class described, a movable door, a latch adapted to retain the same in a closed position, a door-opening mechanism, a magnet for disengaging said latch, means operated in the movement of the latch for electrically energizing the door-opening mechanism, a moving member, electrical contacts controlled by said moving member for establishing circuit through said magnet, and means for automatically closing said door when the magnet is denergized.

4. In a device of the class described, a movable door, a pivoted lever for operating the same, an angle-arm from said lever, a vertically-disposed solenoid having its core free to move by gravity and connected with said arm, a traveling member and means for energizing said solenoid controlled by the movement of said traveling member.

5. In a device of the class described, a movable door, a pivoted lever for operating the same, an angle-arm from said lever, a solenoid having its core connected with said arm, a latch adapted to retain said door in a closed position, a magnet for moving said latch to release the door, a traveling member, a circuit controlled by said traveling member for energizing said magnet, and means controlled by the movement of the latch for energizing said solenoid.

6. In a device of the class described, a movable door, a pivoted lever for operating the same, an angle-arm from said lever, a solenoid having its core connected with said arm, a latch adapted to retain said door in a closed position, a magnet for moving said latch to release the door, a traveling member, a circuit controlled by said traveling member for energizing said magnet, contacts in circuit with said solenoid and disposed above said latch, and a conducting-plate carried by the contacts.

7. In a device of the class described, a movable door, an electrically-energizedmechanism for operating the same, a projection carried by said door, a latch disposed abovesaid projection and mounted for vertical movement relative-thereto, a magnet having poles to attract said latch, a main line in circuit with said magnet, contact-blocks is said circuit, and a traveling member having a movable part adapted to establish circuit-between said contact-blocks. Y

8. In a device of the class described, a movable door, an electrically-energized mechanism for operating the same, a projection carried by said door, a latch disposed above said projection and mounted for vertical movement relative thereto, a magnet having poles to attract said'latch, main line in circuit with said magnet, contact-blocks insaid circuit, a traveling member having a movable part adapted to establish circuit between said contact-blocks, a shoulder upon said latchfor engaging said projection, an extended end to said latch having an inclined under face, a conducting-plate insulated from the upper face'of said extended end, and contacts above said plate for establishing circuit through the door-opening mechanism.

9. In adevice of the class described, a movable door, a latch adapted to retain said door in a closed position, a main-line circuit, a magnet for releasing said latch, a circuit-line extending from the main circuit to one end of the magnet-winding, wall-contacts one of which is in circuit with the opposite end of the magnet-winding and'the other in circuit with the return of the'main circuit, a dooroperating mechanism comprising a solenoid in circuit with the main lines, means for breaking said solenoid-circuit when the latch engages the door, and a traveling member provided with means for establishing circuit between said wall-contacts.

10. In a device of the class described,a movable door, a latch adapted to retain said door in a closed position, a main-line circuit, a magnet for releasing said latch, a circuitline extending from the main circuit to one end of the magnet-winding, wall-contacts one of which is in circuit with the opposite end of the magnet-winding and the other in circuit with the return of the main circuit, a door-operating mechanism comprising a solenoid in circuit with the main lines, means for breaking said solenoid-circuit when the latch engages the door, a traveling member provided with a reciprocating arm' for estabrock-shaft for operating said arm, a push-rod for actuating said shaft, and a restoringlishing circuit between said wall-contacts, a

line extending from the main circuitvto one end of the magnet-winding, wall-contacts one 7 of which is in circuit with the opposite end of the magnet-windingand the otherin circuit with the return of the main circuit, a door-operating mechanism comprising a solenoid in circuit with the main lines, means provided with a reciprocating arrnfor establishing circuit between saidwall-contacts, a

rock-shaft for operating said arm, a-push-rod for actuating said shaft, a restoring-spring for said arm, a pivoted operating-lever for 'said'door having anangle-arm extended therefrom, and a connection between said arm and the core of said solenoid.

12. In a device of the class described, a movline extending-from the maincircuit to one end of the magnet winding, wall-contacts one of the magnet-winding and the other in circuit with the return of the main circuit, a

door-operating mechanism comprising a s0- lenoid in circuit with the main lines, means magnet for releasing said latch,-a-circuit- -of which is in circuit with the opposite end for breaking said solenoid-circuit when the latch engages the door, a traveling member provided with a reciprocating arm for establishing circuit between. said wall-contacts, a-

rock-shaft for operating said arm, a push-rod for actuating said shaft, a restoring-spring for said arm,a pivoted operating-lever for said door having an angle-arm extended therefrom, a connection between said arm and the core of said solenoid, an inclined face and shoulder upon the under side of said latch, and a projection from said door having an inclined and a straight face adapted to contact with said latch.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH CHAMBERS, J R.

Witnesses: I

T. H.-B1EZE, J. W. PERKINS. 

